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Tuesday, 17 June 2014

The June Shopping Hunt

I have shopped rather a lot recently, and have found some great bargains from the high street, Ebay and car boot sales, some of which are vintage inspired but you'll have to excuse the odd meander through time with some of them! Allow me to share my shopping experience with you, along with some of the things that I didn't buy, but might be of interest to you. The fashionistas might call this a 'haul'. Excuse some of the mobile pics, but this is meant to be more show and tell than a photography post!

First of all, I know you're all dying to hear about my trip to the huge new Primark concept store in Cardiff. I got there at 9am on Friday morning, thinking that I would have a good hour of peace and quiet before the hordes arrived. In reality, I had about 10 minutes of being able to walk around without people bumping into me and ramming their pushchairs into my ankles. Everybody else had the same idea apparently. Sigh.

I tried on those palazzo trousers (£13) from the ad campaign, you might have seen them. I liked them, they have a casual retro feel, but I couldn't think of where I'd wear them, and ended up leaving them behind, which I may live to regret. Super length on them, with me being a tall girl I expected them to be half-mast but they were just right.

There are lots of lovely midi skirts in the summer range, including a floaty white number, £13, (which I did buy), and a very '50s looking one with a stamp print. The only reason I didn't buy the latter is that I already have a midi skirt in those colours and couldn't justify one that's slightly different. The cropped blue tee is from H&M, £3.99 and comes in a multitude of colours.

This little dress (£13) is very sporty, it reminds me of a tennis dress, and I can't relate it to vintage in any way, I just liked it and imagine myself wearing it with my bright pink trainers as I go for a cycle. It comes in lilac also.

Another dress that wasn't me but would be great on somebody shorter, with a straighter figure, was this white shirt dress, also available in navy. On me it looked frumpy as the waist was too high and the bust too tight. Darn it!

I tried on a cute 'skort' too, but don't think it sat right on me, I'm sure at the front you're not supposed to see the leg of fabric underneath. Lots of styles and colours in store though if you're after a skort!

Finally in Primark I picked up some tee-shirts (£2), running shorts (£5), a flower hairband (£4) and I tried on some lace-trim nighties, but found the fit quite unflattering on me, as they fit more under the bust than on the waist, which always gives me maternity vibes.

The downsides of the new Primark store are as follows: There are no
fitting rooms on the lingerie floor, so you have to either go up or down
a floor. There is only air con in the basement, the other floors were
heating up on such a hot day. Some sizes in certain things (like these
gorgeous white cropped trousers I saw) had sold out already, despite the
store having been open only 3 days at that point. And finally, if the
sales assistant makes an error at the till, as mine did, you have to
trek it up to customer services on the top floor to have it put right.

Moving on to Peacocks, I picked up this gorgeous little sundress, with pockets, for just £16. They have other colours and prints available in store, but online I could only see this one. The length is perfect if you're after a more vintage look, and the light cotton fabric is super for hot days. I could see Fleur from Diary of a Vintage Girl wearing this one.

I also bought some flip flops, despite hating things between my toes, because I want them for holidays, and on wearing them yesterday I've realised that flip flops make everyone walk like a pregnant woman, even if you're not pregnant. Or a woman. Watch someone walking in flip flops and you'll see what I mean. I bought these simple ones with a jaunty bow for £6.

I didn't buy these sandals from M&S despite being in love with the colour and the soft suede. They're gorgeous shoes, and I love them from above, but the OH said that from the side they made my legs look short, quite a feat on someone of my height. I think I will stick to my wedges for summer sandals, I do prefer a bit of a heel rather than a completely flat shoe.

I also didn't buy these blue suede shoes from Dune, as the front of the shoe is rather too narrow for me. They're now on sale for £48 or you can get them in a blush colour at the full price £69.

In Debenhams I headed to my French favourite, Promod, and picked up this gorgeous coloured dress with a dropped waist. I think it has a bit of a '60s feel, and it was only £15. You can order it online here.

If you're after some pin-up style shorts with a fitted waist and a loose fit through the hip then head straight to New Look, where they have these shorts in various colours for £14. I bought the coral. Excuse the creases, I didn't iron them!

That was it from the high street, but on Ebay after many months of waiting I managed to snag a new pair of these 1940s inspired Clarks shoes in black, for less than half price, after having bought the red ones last year and finding them perfect.

No summer shopping would be complete without a visit to the car boot sale, where I picked up 2 pairs of unworn leather boots for £5, still with tags/labels on, and a pretty little preloved dress for £1.

I'm all shopped out, for this month at least. What do you think of my purchases? Which do you like best??

I was kindly given a voucher to spend at Primark at their store opening, but all views are my own!

Phew....that is some haul! I really love those Peacock flip flops, very cute with the bow! The white Primark skirt is absolutely gorgeous and the crop t is perfect with it. The 'sporty' Primark dress is great.....I can imagine you looking all glam on your bike! Some great purchases, I am always in awe of the amazing items people find at boot sales! I must try harder to get myself to one! xx

I love the 60's style blue dress, it's gorgeous and cute and I could wear something like that. I agree about the blue flat sandals shortening legs, I don't like them particularly much on anyone (except tiny people who look good in anything). The preloved dress listed last is also really cute, I like the collar and the print.

Holy cow, what a haul! I really love the tennis dress and the white midi--those are both so adorable. Also, I adore the white dress you didn't buy! I've been shopping like crazy, too, lately--I kinda need to cut back for a while. :P

Oh my, what luck you have shopping! I love the sundress, though any dress with pockets is fantastic in my eyes. I'm also loving the sporty black dress, the neckline is fabulous and what great legs you have for wearing shorter styles!!

You really have been busy! Obviously, my favourite has to be the crop top right ;) you've confirmed my love for Peacocks - they're doing little wrong in my eyes at the moment... But actually, my real favourite is probably the white sandals you're wearing in some of these shots because I've been looking for some like these for ages!! Where were they from? x

I was with you on everything until the flip flops. I wear flip flops around my house as slippers in the summertime. So after reading your post I slipped them on and had a good laugh. Your right they do make you walk like a pregnant woman. Now I'm great full to you for pointing it out and thankful I only wear them around the house.

What many gems you found! Some great bargains too....like the cute pink shorts. You must try Cecil's for a themed vintage night out or the Candlelight Club is usually good too....hope you are having a fabulous week!May xwww.walkinginmay.com

That Peacocks dress is lovely!! Looks a good length considering the usual high street styles, I might try hunting that one down! I can rarely stand going into Primark, too stressful, too messy, but very handy for gym and loungewear for sure!

Really lovely, fun pieces one and all. I am especially smitten with the stamp print skirt. Love, love, love and would, if I could, hop the pond just to buy one of my own (okay, I'd do a ton of other things in the UK, too, but sure would be fun to say that you went on a transatlantic flight for the sake of a single garment, no? :)).

I'm trying to picture walking like a pregnant woman now, I guess this far along maybe I do it? I still feel like I'm striding along just a bit slower but maybe I'm really waddling?! Lol.

Anyway the white Pri skirt is gorgeous, love the stamp one too & shirt dress, do like a shirt dress but I don't think I'll fit nursing boobs into any of mine any time soon! The cobalt M&S flats are also VERY tempting!!